By Emmanuel Mandella

By Emmanuel Mandella

Former Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Anthony Lino Makana, has called on the Western Equatoria State government to act decisively to prevent a “resurgence of insecurity” in Tombura County.

He warned that the situation is rapidly evolving into a crisis. In his open letter to the Acting Governor of Western Equatoria State, Daniel Badagbu, Makana described Tombura as a “community on the brink” where citizens live in fear of death, rape, and displacement daily, with basic activities such as farming, warning that the situation could lead to famine.

“Frequent attacks, rapes, ambushes, kidnappings, killings, and arson have made it nearly impossible for citizens to access their farms. This could lead to famine in the near future,” Makana wrote on social media.

Responding to the statement, a commentator, Justine King Mobano stated that the area was already under serious threat of famine due to the rampant conflicts.

“Dozens of school-going children have dropped out due to instability. The situation demands urgent response not only from the state, but also from the national government.”

While acknowledging efforts made by acting governor to restore peace in the area, Hon. Makana urged for immediate, concerted efforts.

To tame the conflict, Makana proposed for the temporary relocation of the state government headquarters to Tombura County as a symbolic and strategic move to bring the leadership closer to the epicenter.

“Lakes State today stands as a model of stability and effective rule of law in South Sudan. Western Equatoria can and must replicate such success, particularly in Tombura,” Makana stated, referring to the strong leadership of Governor Rin Tueny Mabor for quelling violence in the State.

Other than relocating the state government administration, Makana also proposed other four issues, which include: establishing joint security patrols across towns and highways to restore civilian confidence, strengthen intelligence gathering and early warning systems, swiftly acting on known perpetrators through revitalized local courts to serve justice, and engaging humanitarian agencies to deliver aid and trauma recovery services in the area.

Community leaders and civil society organizations have also raised concerns over the increasing number of displaced families, closed schools and deepening strain on already overwhelmed resources.

Sources estimate that 15 incidents of armed ambushes and village raids have been reported in Tombura the past two months alone, with at least 9 people killed, several women assaulted, and homes torched in Gbazangbo, Zamoi, and Source Yubu areas.

Local chiefs, including Chief Isaac Fuma of Nangondi, warned last week that unless action is taken swiftly, Tombura risks sliding into irreversible chaos.

International partners, including humanitarian agencies working in Western Equatoria, have also privately expressed frustration over access constraints and insecurity hampering aid delivery to affected areas.

With Makana’s public appeal now dominating political and social media platforms across the state and country, the pressure is mounting on the state and national governments to respond to the conflict.